By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Hours before the 2024 presidential election, Speaker Mike Johnson paid visits to three Louisiana Baptist churches to thank them for their prayers and encourage them to continue the fight for Judeo-Christian values.
“We’re at a crossroads as a nation and the foundations are being destroyed,” Johnson said during a visit to Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City, Nov. 3. He also spoke at First Baptist Church, Haughton, and Plain Dealing Baptist Church.
“It’s as if the metaphorical walls of the city have been burned to the ground and foreigners from outside are coming and having the spoils,” he continued. “We’re past the point of just a contest between Republicans and Democrats anymore. Right now, we’re in a battle between two completely different visions of who we are as a nation and who we’re going to be.”
Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, said for the last year he has traveled the country and recruited others who share his vision and burden for a nation that has been under assault.
“What we’re doing right now is we’re trying to preserve those foundations and preserve everything that comes from it – the ideas of individual freedom and limited government, and the rule of law, and peace through strength and fiscal responsibility and free markets and human dignity, the sanctity of all human life, secure borders,” he said. “You know, things that used to not be controversial, but they are right now, so it falls to us to defend them. We’re the stewards of those foundations. We’re the guardians in many ways of those foundations.”
Johnson thanked the crowd for their support.
“We’re doing what we believe God has called us to do,” he said. “The reason I came this morning is I want to say thank you. Thank you for praying for us and encouraging us and supporting us along the way because that has meant everything to (my wife) Kelly and me and our kids and the family.”
Airline Baptist Pastor Terry Young told the Baptist Message that Johnson was full of faith, hope and wisdom as he expressed his vision for the United States.
“He requested that our church offer prayers for him and other leaders who share his commitment to upholding the Judeo-Christian principles upon which our nation was established,” Young said. “Our nation is going through a historic moment, and I am grateful for Speaker Johnson’s love for Christ, his family and our nation.”
Gevan Spinney, pastor with First Baptist Church, Haughton, talked on stage with House Speaker Mike Johnson during his visit to the church. Facebook photo
During his final stop, Johnson was among those featured during a time of prayer hosted by Plain Dealing Baptist Church. More than 125 people representing six multi-denominational churches packed the worship center for the church’s first-ever community-wide prayer service.
“It was a great time for all of our area churches to come together and just pray for our country,” Plain Dealing Pastor Alan Brown said. “We followed the biblical mandate to pray for our leaders and our nation. So it was great to have him there. It was a great privilege for all of us there to surround Speaker Johnson in prayer after he briefly spoke.
“It’s a pleasure when we have godly leaders who are given the courage and boldness to lead with faith and conviction,” he continued. “Because of the season we are in with the election coming up, we just felt it was important to pray for our nation and for our leaders at this particular time.”
Northwest Louisiana Baptist Associational Missions Strategist Lane Moore added: “Speaking in our Baptist churches is second hand to Congressman Mike Johnson. You might call church his home base. Long before Mike entered the political arena he would travel throughout northwest Louisiana churches giving speeches on our nation’s Judo-Christian founding and the biblical principles that America was rooted in. Giving these type lectures in churches over many years prepared this brother with an ability to articulate what he believed and what he stood for in a clear and concise manner.”
